yassa

Where does the word "yassa" come from? It comes from Wolof yaxa, and was adopted directly into English (late 1900s).

Yassa’s story begins in Wolof: yaxa meant “to cook in an onion sauce.” Described the method of marinating and stewing meat or fish in an onion sauce. It reached English by late 1900s as yassa. Entered English through Senegalese restaurants and cookbooks describing the dish. Today, yassa means a Senegalese dish of chicken or fish marinated and stewed in onions, lemon, and mustard.

1. Stage 1 · Wolof · traditional yaxa "to cook in an onion sauce", described the method of marinating and stewing meat or fish in an onion sauce.
2. Stage 2 · English · late 1900s yassa "a Senegalese dish of marinated, onion-stewed chicken or fish", entered English through Senegalese restaurants and cookbooks describing the dish.